News from March 2014

This year’s Millennium trip was once again a great success and the weather was kinder to us than last year. The pupils enjoyed an array of activities beginning with a tour of the Millennium Stadium. The children were quite awe -struck as they sat in the Royal Box and watched James Hook practising his kicking. …

Junior Book Club members gave R J Palacio’s Wonder a standing ovation. Quiz winners, team Olivia (St David’s), also deserve a round of applause.
The theme of the next Junior Book Club is The Great War, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1. Book Club members can choose between two award winning, poignant and moving texts:
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (aimed at older readers)
and
War Game by Michael Foreman (suitable for all, R8-R11)
Michael Morpurgo’s deceptively simple style makes Private Peaceful accessible to most but please be aware that it has been described as “an unflinching examination of the horrors of war” and therefore is not for the faint hearted.…

The Chess Club has been competing in the East Glamorgan Minor Chess League since September with Aron Calist as the present captain. Between the schools entered in the league, St John’s College came second, ahead of Howell’s School in third. The pupils are determined to build on this valuable experience and aim to finish at the top next year! …

On Wednesday, 26th March, Techniquest visited the Juniors with their workshop, “Magical Materials”. This took the form of a magic show where white rabbits were made to appear; a wire read our minds and formed the word, “HOT”; “solids” flowed through holes; water disappeared; and rubber ducks changed colour.
The show explored the properties of solids, liquids and gases, and the pupils were encouraged by Mr Techniquest to offer their own explanations for what they observed.…

Multi-sports activities will be held in the School Hall during first break and lunchtime, with a 50p donation for each activity. Raffle tickets will also be on sale from Monday 24 March at 20p each. Thank you for your support of this worthy charitable cause.
Mrs Brown.…

Our R16 Public Speaking team was up early on Saturday to travel to Maisemore Village Hall in Gloucestershire for the South West Regional Final of Rotary Youth Speaks. During our visit we managed to find time to explore the centre of Gloucester, including its magnificent Gothic Cathedral.
Ryan M (Chairman), Dominie P (Speaker) and Bethan T (Proposer of the Vote of Thanks) put in a very fine performance, achieving second place overall behind an older team of sixth formers from Concord College in Birmingham. …

Tonight’s performance was a resounding success, with an incredibly high standard of music making. Many congratulations to all the performers involved in tonight’s concert which ended in a standing ovation!
Spring_Concert_2014…

Congratulations to all R15 pupils who have launched their businesses and have started selling goods as part of their Enterprise project. Our budding entrepreneurs have been working extremely hard to make their businesses a success, with a start-up fund of just £10.00.
Mrs Wood.…

The pupils wowed their parents with their acting, recitation skills, singing and musical talent and at times there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Each pupil received an achievement certificate for their efforts so far this academic year from all areas of the curriculum. They worked extremely hard in the run up to the event and really made me proud on the day.…

On 12th-14th March 2014, 27 pupils from R14, accompanied by Mr Taylor, Mr Cooper and Mrs Evans, visited the battlefields of the First World War in Belgium and France. This year marks the centenary of the outbreak of the conflict and this made the trip all the more poignant.
The pupils visited numerous sites over the 3 days we were away including the town of Ypres, Wellington Quarry near Arras, Newfoundland Park, the Thiepval Memorial and the Welsh dragon memorial at Mametz Wood. …

On Tuesday 11 March, the girl and boy choristers and gentlemen of the Cathedral Choir performed their annual Easter Concert at St David’s Hall, including highlights from Monteverdi Vespers with orchestra.…

On Friday March 7th, our Junior pupils gathered together in the school hall for a day of music, literary performances, celebration and friendly competition as we held our annual Eisteddfod. The pupils eagerly await this time of year when they can celebrate and embrace Welsh culture. Pupils competed in a variety of competitions including Welsh and English recitations, instrumental performances and homework competitions like creating a 3D castle and designing a Celtic Knot.…

Please click here for more details.
From the Rotary website:
‘In a tightly fought contest in the Urdd theatre of the Wales Millennium Centre, St John’s College came away triumphant, not only winning the Senior competition, but also being judged runners-up in the Intermediates.
The Senior team of Ryan Martin (chairman), Dominie Patel (speaker), and Bethan Thomas (Vote of Thanks), spoke on the subject “Freedom of Speech is an absolute inviolable right”.…

Thursday 6th March was an extremely wet day but that didn’t deter R9 from visiting the Cog Moors Wastewater Treatment Works as part of their study of the right to clean water for all.
The morning was spent in the education centre where the pupils learnt about the need to conserve water and how to make their homes a more water efficient environment.…

On Wednesday 5 March, our Middle School pupils gathered together in the school hall for our annual Middle School Eisteddfod. The pupils eagerly await this time of year when they can celebrate and embrace Welsh culture; both pupils and teachers have been working hard for months in preparation of our much loved afternoon of music, literary performances, celebration and friendly competition.…